PUBLIC MEETING AT FITCHBURG. 7 



There is reason for congratulation, that we have had a more 

 than usual exemption from disease among tlie stock of the 

 farm during the past year. Wliile England and other coun- 

 tries from which we are making frequent importations, either 

 directly or indirectly, are still suffering great losses from 

 contagious or epizootic diseases, wc cannot be too constantly 

 on our guard against invasion from abroad. The experience 

 we had a few years ago, ought not to be forgotten. An in- 

 spection sufficiently rigid to detect the first appearance of any 

 contagious or dangerous disease in our stock, can be main- 

 tained at a cost quite trifling compared with the losses which 

 a neglect of suitable precaution might entail, and the contin- 

 uance of the Board of Cattle Commissioners would seem to 

 be wise, as affording some means of safety in an emergency 

 such as we have had in former years, and such as we are cer- 

 tainly liable to at any future time. The Commission, as now 

 constituted, is at no expense of any account to the Common- 

 wealth. It affords a nucleus for prompt and energetic action 

 in case of necessity, and so is, to some extent, a security 

 against being taken by surprise, as we were in 1859. 



PUBLIC MEETIl^G OF THE BOARD, 



At FITCHBURG. 



The country meeting of the Board was held in Fitchburg, 

 December 2d, 3d and 4th, and was very fully attended. 



The sessions commenced on the morning of Tuesday, De- 

 cember 2d, at the City Hall, and the meeting was opened 

 by an address from Capt. Eugene T. Miles, chairman of the 

 committee on meetings. 



ADDRESS OF MR. MILES. 



Gentlemen of the State Board of Agriculture: — By a cus- 

 tom or practice of long standing, the duty of calling this 

 meeting to order devolves upon the chairman of the committee 

 on meetings. It is not my purpose to detain you with any 

 extended remarks, but I beg to say that the honor you have 

 conferred upon us by selecting Fitchburg as the place for 



